4 minute read
Munsen Leads with a Show of Hands
Mariah Munsen conducted a piece during the 2019 Christmas at Bethany concert in Trinity Chapel.
Photos by David Norris
BY AMBER MURRY • BETHANY SENIOR ENGLISH MAJOR
Senior music major steps up to help conduct band
When Bethany senior Mariah Munsen received the phone call from Assistant Professor of Music Ben Faugstad asking her to conduct a Concert Band performance taking place in less than a week, emotions flooded her mind. This concert was the first of the semester as well as the first Bethany outdoor concert in several years.
This type of reaction is exactly the reason Faugstad chose Munsen as a substitute conductor after injuring his back in early September. Faugstad is the director for several of Bethany’s instrumental ensembles, including Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and the B-Town Drumline. He traditionally directs and conducts all of these groups, but is also careful to allow plenty of opportunities for students like Munsen to take a more central role than usual.
Munsen has been heavily involved in various parts of the Music Department during her time at Bethany. Her primary instrument is the flute, which she plays as a member of the Concert Band. For the Jazz Ensemble, she provides accompaniment on the piano. While at Bethany, Munsen has also learned to play the snare drum for B-Town Drumline. In previous years, she has enjoyed playing the violin for Chamber Orchestra while also making time in her busy schedule for choral music.
These activities are quite befitting for her music major, but Munsen’s true passion is conducting. As an augmentation to her emphasis in conducting, Munsen also takes private lessons to sharpen her skills. In the interest of gaining extra hands-on experience, she has had the opportunity to conduct individual songs for other past concerts, including the beloved Christmas at Bethany concert.
This previous experience made her the ideal candidate in Faugstad’s mind to take on the role of conducting all five songs of the September concert, last-minute though the change was. After just a few practices with the band during the week before the concert, Munsen was ready to go. Faugstad praised her willingness to take on the task.
“She didn’t hesitate. That’s a huge credit to her attitude and her confidence in her skills, and the ensemble were right with her. They basically embraced her conducting without hesitation, and the concert was wonderful.”
The student conductor wasn’t the only new aspect of this concert. Due to the ongoing global pandemic, Faugstad and other members of the Bethany Music
Department were forced to make many adjustments to their practices and performances. Traditional practice rooms were swapped, schedules revised, special singing masks and bell covers were purchased, and taped markers for social distance were carefully measured.
Some, such as Faugstad, chose to perform concerts and practices outside while the weather remained warm. He was quick to point out, however, that social distancing and the great outdoors sometimes have a rather negative effect on coordinated sound.
“We’re so used to hearing each other from three feet away, and now you double that, and everything sounds strange. And then, with the wooden instruments and the nature of how they’re played in Chamber Orchestra, it’s tough to say, ‘Let’s go outside.’ They’re more delicate, and that’s true on the choral side too. You get a gust of wind while trying to sing and it just kind of disappears.”
The robust instruments of the Concert Band, on the other hand, can often be heard across campus when they play.
Mariah Munsen plays flute in the Concert Band.
Photo by David Norris
“We have received a lot of compliments throughout the semester from people who hear it while they’re walking to and from class,” said Faugstad with a chuckle.
It seems that, whether Faugstad or Munsen is the conductor, the energy of the Concert Band has been able to soar across campus with the sound of hope conveyed through musical notes.
Munsen in particular has appreciated these opportunities to be outside because she can remove the mask, making it easier to use facial expressions in order to evoke the sounds she imagines.
Mariah Munsen conducted for Bethany's first outdoor band concert this fall.
Photo by David Norris
“I think that facial expressions and hand gestures are a huge part of conducting. I do a lot of careful thinking about how expressive my hand gestures are because they show how I want the music to be portrayed.”
Munsen has also had many opportunities to utilize these conducting techniques outside of Bethany. At the moment, she teaches music lessons at Risen Savior Lutheran School in Mankato and works as the conductor for Minnesota’s Over Sixty Band, “which is funny because I’m definitely not over sixty, but they’re a really fun group to work with,” said Munsen.
Munsen has taken part in Bethany's B-Town Drumline.
Photo by David Norris
As she looks to her future after graduation, Munsen hopes to open a musical instrument lesson studio in the Mankato area. She also plans to look for other directing or conducting opportunities in area schools and churches.
Until graduation and God-willing, she will “return to normal” and continue conducting one or two special selections at upcoming concerts with the Concert Band, but it seems Faugstad will never forget her willingness to jump in at the last minute and take responsibility for conducting a whole concert.
“I was so proud of what she did. I’ll always be grateful that she was able and willing to step in for me when I couldn’t do it.”
She conducted for part of this year's Christmas at Bethany concert, which was recorded and released on December 6.
Photo by David Norris
VIEW THE 2020 CHRISTMAS AT BETHANY CONCERT:
